Tiltable receptacle devices and control means therefor



Sept. 27, 1955 w. H. WHEELER TILTABLE RECEPTACLE DEVICES AND CONTROLMEANS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 7, 1952 'flllll! rill!!! rllllflllllllflflf Ion QM INVENTOR WlLLl HM H. WHEELER BY Maw? ATTO R N EY United StatesPatent TILTABLE RECEPTACLE DEVICES AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR William H.Wheeler, New York, N. Y.

Application February 7, 1952, Serial No. 270,359

7 Claims. (Cl. 312-327) more particularly, my invention deals with adevice of the character described wherein means is provided for checkingmovement of the receptacle into its closed or concealed, inoperativeposition.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic, side View of a sink structure illustrating oneadaptation and use of my invention and illustrating the parts in atilted position in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 2 is a face view of a casing or environment having means forstorage and mounting of two receptacles with parts of the constructionbroken away and in section; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing only the lower part of thedevice and showing a modification.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have diagrammatically illustrated at a sinkstructure in the lower portion of which is arranged one of my tiltablereceptacle units, generally identified by the reference character 11.The unit 11 comprises a front door or closure portion 12 on the innersurface of which is a platform 13 having depending walls, one of whichis shown at 14, these walls being joined near the inner portion thereofby a transverse bearing strip 15.

The walls 14 have near their forward ends and inwardly of the door front12 downwardly opening notches, one of which is seen at 16 for receptionof a transverse pivot rod or pin 17. Secured to and projecting above theplatform 13, a plurality of spring clamps 18 are employed to positionand hold a suitable receptacle, such as a can 19, against displacementfrom the platform. The upper beaded edge 20 of the can is adapted torest upon the inner surface of the door 12 so as to sustain the load aswhen the receptacle unit is tilted forward in the manner illustrated indot-dash lines in Fig. 1. This forward tilted movement is checked by aspring catch device 21 suitably fixed on the sink structure 10, as forexample at 22.

Constituting part of the unit, but detachable with respect thereto, is abracket portion 23 which can be fixed to a floor or other support as byone or more screws 24, the bracket portion having two upwardly andforwardly extending bearings, one of which is shown at 25, in which thepin or rod 17 is mounted. be understood that the pin or rod 17constitutes part of the bracket structure. Intermediate the bearingwalls 25 and integral with the bracket portion 23 is an upwardly In thisconnection it will 2,719,071 Patented Sept. 27, 1955 extending stopstrip 26 for limiting downward movement of a foot pedal or treadle 27.The pedal or treadle 27 has a pair of upwardly extending ears 28apertured to receive the pin 17, thus providing a free swinging movementof the pedal on said pin. The pedal has a forwardly and downwardlydirected tread portion 29 which is normally spaced below the lower edgeportion of the door 12 and arranged above the floor or other support onwhich the bracket 23 is arranged in the manner clearly illustrated inFig. 1.

Supported on the rear portion of the bracket 23 is a dash-pot device 30,a cylinder of which has at its lower end portion a discharge aperture 31controlling the degree of air discharge in operation of this device. Aplunger 32 is operable in the cylinder of the device, the upper end headof the plunger being positioned to engage the lower surface of the strip15, and a spring, diagrammatically shown at 33, is employed to raise theplunger 32 as, and when, the receptacle is tilted forward by depressionof the pedal 27. The inner end .27 of the pedal 27 operates upon theundersurface of the strip 15 in moving the receptacle unit into tiltedposition. In this connection, it will be understood that when the pedalis operated sutficiently to move the receptacle beyond the dead centerposition, the receptacle will continue its forward tilted movement bygravity, and this movement is controlled and checked by the catch 21.Whenever it is desired, it will be understood that the catch 21 can beraised by hand so as to tilt the unit forward sufficiently to remove thecontainer or can 19 for discharge of the contents. On the other hand,the entire unit, comprising the door 12 and the parts 13, 14, 15, 18 and19, can be removed by simply raising the unit to allow the pin 17 toclear the notches 16.

In returning the unit from its tilted position, diagrammatically shownin dot-dash lines in Fig. 1, all that is necessary for the operator todo is to move the unit 11 inwardly until its center of gravity isshifted inwardly of the axis of the pivot 17, after which the unit willdrop into closed position automatically, and in this operation themovement of the unit is checked by action of the dash-pot device 30. Thefinal closed position of the unit 11 can be controlled by the stop 26,it being understood that the strip 15 will rest upon the end 27' of thepedal 27. It will be understood that the tiltable unit, comprising theparts 13, 14, 15, 18 and 19, together with the bracket unit 23, havingthe pivot pin 17, foot treadle 27 and dash-pot device mounted therein,can be sold as an assembled unit to cabinet makers, home owners, and thelike for installation into cabinet structures of various types andkinds.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I have shown a slight modification of thestructure shown in Fig. 1 wherein a unit 34, generally similar to theunit 11, is employed, this unit having a receptacle portion 35 fixed tothe door front portion 12 thereof; and at the lower portion of thereceptacle 35 and door front 12 is a frame comprising side strips, oneof which is shown at 36, and a rear cross strip 37. The side strips 36each have a V-notch 38 therein for pivotal mounting on a contractedpivot portion 39 of a transverse strip 40, the latter constituting partof a bracket or frame having opposed side wall portions, one of which isseen at 41.

With the construction shown in Fig. 3, a pin or rod 42 similar to thepin 17 is employed and is supported in the wall portions 41. A treadleor pedal 43 is employed and this pedal has a depending bearing portion44 adjacent its forward end, operating on the pin 42. The outer end ofthe pedal has a tread portion 45 spaced below the lower edge of the doorfront 12 and with suflicient clearance above a supporting surface tofacilitate free operation thereof. Supported on at least one ofthe wallportions 41 is a stop 46 similar to the stop 26 which checks movement ofthe pedal and also movement of the unit 34 into closed position. Theinner end 43' of the pedal 43 engages the lower surface of the strip 37in limiting closing movement of the unit 34.

At 47, I have shown a dash-pot device generally similar to the device 30which is mounted in connection with at least one of the wall portions 41and operates to check closing movement of the unit 34, in the samemanner as described for the device 30. The device 47 has a plunger 48which operates upon the lower surface of the strip 37 in accomplishingthe dash-pot control of the unit 34. It will be understood that thestructure illustrated in part in Fig. 3 of the drawing can be applied toa sink structure such as shown in Fig. 1 or would be applicable to anytype or kind of enclosure according to the showing in Fig. 2 of thedrawing which will now be specifically described.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing, I have shown at 49 an enclosure unit which maycomprise a cabinet of any type or kind having side walls 50, 51, asuitable top wall 52, a back wall 53 and a bottom wall 54. At 55, I haveshown a duplex unit comprising a front door or closure wall which iscomposed of door parts 56, 56', generally similar to the wall 12 of Fig.l, and being secured at the lower portion thereof to platforms '57, 57which are similar to the platform 13. These platforms have spring clipsor the like 58, 58' for detachable mounting of containers, cans orreceptacles 59, 59' thereon. Each of the platforms 57, 57 havedepending, grooved side wall portions 60, 60' similar in all respects tothe Wall portion 14, the grooves (not shown) of which are adapted to fitover a pivot pin 61 similar to the pin 17. The complete unit 55 or theindividual tiltable units thereof can thus be detached from the cabinet49 whenever desired.

At 62 is shown a bracket generally similar to the bracket 23 with theexception that it is made considerably wider or, in other words, theraised bearing portions 63 thereof are widely spaced in support of thepin 61. At 64 and 64 are shown two pedals or treadles, again generallysimilar to the pedal or treadle 27, each having a pair of raised bearingportions 65, 65 which pivotally engage the pin 61. The treads of thepedals 64, 64' extend between the pairs of bearing portions 65, 65 asseen at 66, 66' and beyond said bearing portions so that each tread issubstantially one-half the transverse dimension of the interior of thecabinet 49, and the adjacent ends of the treads are in close proximityas seen at 67, so that the pedals 64, 64 can be depressed collectivelyor individually depending on the position of the foot, in pivoting thecomplete unit 55 or the individual tiltable units thereof into theforward tilted positions. This forward tilted position is controlled bychecks or catch devices 21 similar to the device 21 shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawing. At 68 and 68 are shown bearing strips joining the walls 60,60 which in all respects are similar to the strip 15, and two dash-potdevices similar to the device 30 can be employed to individually checkrearward or closing movement of the containers.

It will be understood that cabinets or enclosures of the type or kindshown in Fig. 3 of the drawing can be constructed of single containerunits or of multiple units, shown specifically in Fig. 3, and can beused for many purposes in the home and other establishments for quickstorage or disposal of various articles or matter. In other words, thetiltable container units can be utilized as garbage receptacles orreceptacles for disposal of products of many types or kinds, andaccordingly, in constructing cabinets such as disclosed in Fig. 3 of thedrawing, the cabinet can be designed and characterized in any desiredmanner to suit the place of use. The cabinet structure as a whole,including all of the exterior wall portions, can be produced from anytype or kind of materials, or combination of materials, and in producingarticles of furniture suitable for use in the home, the cabinet can beornamented and designed to suit the intended use.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A receptacle device of the character described comprising a tiltableunit defined by a receptacle base having an upstanding door formingpanel, said base having at the lower portion thereof transverselydisposed pivot engaging means adjacent said door panel and atransversely disposed bearing surface remote from said panel, a pedalarranged beneath said receptacle base for pivotal movement independentlyof said base, said pedal having a front foot-engaging tread and anelongated part extending rearwardly from said tread terminating in anend portion operatively engaging the bearing surface of said base, abracket unit having transversely disposed pivotal supporting means forsaid receptacle base and pedal, a stop member on said bracket unitrearwardly of said pivotal supporting means and operatively engagingsaid pedal to limit downward movement of the last named end thereof, andthe pivotal supporting means on said bracket unit comprising a unitarytransverse rod providing a common pivotal axis for the independentlymovable receptacle base and pedal.

2. In a receptacle device of the character described, a tiltablereceptacle base having transversely disposed pivot engaging means at thelower front portion thereof and a transversely disposed bearing surfaceat the lower rear portion thereof, a pedal arranged beneath saidreceptacle base for pivotal movement independently of said base, theforward end of said pedal having a transverse foot engaging tread, amember on said pedal extending rearwardly from said tread foroperatively engaging the bearing surface of said base, a bracket unithaving a transversely disposed rod pivotally supporting both saidreceptacle base and pedal, and means limiting downward movement of therear end of said pedal.

3. In a receptacle device of the character described, a tiltablereceptacle base having transversely disposed pivot engaging means at thelower front portion thereof and a transversely disposed bearing surfaceat the lower rear portion thereof, a pedal arranged beneath saidreceptacle base for pivotal movement independently of said base, theforward end of said pedal having a transverse foot engaging tread, amember on said pedal extending rearwardly from said tread foroperatively engaging the bearing surface of said base, a bracket unithaving a transversely disposed rod pivotally supporting both saidreceptacle base and pedal, a stop member on said bracket unit rearwardlyof said pivotal supporting means and operatively engaging said pedal tolimit downward movement of the rear end thereof, and yieldable means onsaid bracket unit registering with the bearing surface on saidreceptacle base for retarding downward movement of the rear portion ofsaid base.

4. In a receptacle device of the character described, a tiltablereceptacle base having transversely disposed pivot engaging means at thelower front portion thereof and a transversely disposed bearing surfaceat the lower rear portion thereof, a pedal arranged beneath saidreceptacle base for pivotal movement independently of said base, theforward end of said pedal having a transverse foot engaging tread, amember on said pedal extending rearwardly from said tread foroperatively engaging the bearing surface of said base, a bracket unithaving transversely disposed pivotal supporting means for saidreceptacle base and pedal, a stop member on said bracket unit rearwardlyof said pivotal supporting means and operatively engaging said pedal tolimit downward movement of the rear end thereof, and the pivotalsupporting means on said bracket unit comprising a unitary trans-: verserod providing a common pivotal axis for the independently movablereceptacle base and pedal.

5. A tiltable receptacle unit of the character described,

said unit comprising a front door, a receptacle rearward ly of the door,a bearing strip at the lower portion of the unit, said unit having atside portions thereof adjacent the door pivot notches opening throughthe lower portion of the unit for detachable and pivotal mounting ofsaid unit, means for pivotally mounting and con trolling operation ofsaid unit, said means comprising a pivot rod operating in the notches ofsaid unit, and a pedal swingably mounted on said pivot rod, said pedalincluding a unitary part extending front-to-rear with respect to saidunit, the front edge of said part including a transversely extendingfoot tread, and the rear edge of said part operatively engaging saidbearing strip to control movement of the unit into tilted position.

6. A tiltable receptacle unit of the character described, said unitcomprising a front door, a receptacle rearwardly of the door, a bearingstrip at the lower portion of the unit, said unit having at sideportions thereof adjacent the door pivot notches opening through thelower portion of the unit for detachable and pivotal mounting of saidunit, means for pivotally mounting and controlling operating of saidunit, said means comprising a pivot rod operating in the notches of saidunit, a pedal swingably mounted on said pivot rod, said pedal includinga unitary part extending front-to-rear with respect to said unit, thefront edge of said part including a transversely extending foot tread,and the rear edge of said part operatively engaging said bearing stripto control movement of the unit into tilted position, and means limitingmovement of the pedal in one direction and in retaining the unit inclosed position.

7. A tiltable receptacle unit of the character described, said unitcomprising a front door, a receptacle rearwardly of the door, a bearingstrip at the lower portion of the unit, said unit having at sideportions thereof adjacent the door pivot notches opening through thelower portion of the unit for detachable and pivotal mounting of saidunit, means for pivotally mounting and controlling operating of saidunit, said means comprising a pivot rod operating in the notches of saidunit, a pedal swingably mounted on said pivot rod, said pedal includinga unitary part extending front-to-rear with respect to said unit, thefront edge of said part including a transversely extending foot tread,and the rear edge of said part operatively engaging said bearing stripto control movement of the unit into tilted position, means limitingmovement of the pedal in one direction and in retaining the unit inclosed position, and means comprising a dash-pot device operativelyengaging the bearing strip of said unit to retard movement of the unitinto closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS177,320 Burgett May 16, 1876 509,479 Mayer Nov. 28, 1893 1,884,637Feehan Oct. 25, 1932 2,386,929 Brown Oct. 16, 1945 2,444,125 WheelerJune 29, 1948 2,475,495 Haag July 5, 1949 2,506,533 Winborne May 2, 1950

